Constantine: Quid Pro Quo

After a rather long winter break, Constantine is back on air. If you recall, the show ended on cliffhanger, with Constantine shot and left for dead.
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The new episode of Constantine is probably the best show so far! The best ones are the ones that is based on the comic book, and this new episode, the whole setup is quite similar to Mike Carey's Hellblazer: All His Engines.
What we've been seeing with Constantine is the whole children in danger, harkening back to Newcastle... which, of course, was brought up again in this latest episode.

If you've seen the episode, click below to read the recap and how the television show compares to the original Vertigo Hellblazer comic books.

Warning: Contains spoilers.

Constantine Episode 10: Quid Pro Quo (23 Jan 2015)

Fennel

art by Leonardo Manco

Although the episode changed the ending and swapped out characters, it is basically All His Engines. In the comic book, a demon called Beroul took a bunch of souls, including Chas Chandler's granddaughter Tricia Chandler. John and Chas traveled to Los Angeles to find the origin of these mysterious comas. They sought out Fennel (a powerful psychic), who quickly dies. All this is exactly the setup to this episode.

What's different: Chas Chandler's secret origin is told in a flashback. Apparently he's not immortal, but was as a result of a Constantine drunken spell. He had 47 souls inside him. Every time he dies, he gets closer to permanent death. It is actually cooler than anything in the comic books... and it really gives us a reason why Chas is important to Constantine. The ending was also satisfying and it made sense, given Chas' resurrection ability. I'm quite happy with the ending.

Felix Faust

art by Craig Brasfield/Joe Rubinstein

The demon Beroul is replaced by Felix Faust, who appeared at the beginning in a mysterious blue robe (much like his costume in the comics). Sure, in the current "52" DC Universe, Constantine is seeing hanging out with Super-heroes/battling super-villains in Justice League Dark, but I absolutely hate that. John Constantine is NOT a superhero. I don't understand why DC Comics is pushing him to be as one by mixing in superheroes and villains. I feel it's a mistake, what's next, that The Flash randomly shows up for a guest appearance? No thanks.
I hate DC's new direction.... but in the new 52 Universe, I guess this is a common occurrence.

Epilogue: Zed, having gone to the other side, told John that his mother's death was not his fault... eluding to what we know from the comics: that John's mother died in giving birth to John. They might have mentioned this fact in the pilot, but can I also mention that John was a twin? If they choose to explore more on Constantine's childhood, there is a whole lot that's been written about it.